Many customers also feel the billing process is confusing, which makes it hard to trust what they’re being charged. To get a clearer picture of what people are dealing with, we surveyed 1,004 U.S. consumers about bill spikes, financial strain, provider trust, and how open they are to prepaid electricity as an alternative.
Key Takeaways
- 89% of Americans have been surprised by their electricity bill at least once in the past year. Roughly 1 in 10 (13%) say it happens nearly every month.
- More than half of Americans (53%) suspect their utility provider has overcharged them in the past year.
- Only 7% of Americans feel fully in control of their electricity bill, while more than half (52%) say they have little or no control.
- Tiered pricing is the most confusing part of the electricity bill, with 43% of Americans saying they do not understand it clearly.
- 50% of Americans say an unexpected electricity bill has caused financial strain or forced them to cut other expenses.
- Most Americans are open to prepaid electricity, with 72% saying they’d be at least somewhat likely to try it.
How Often and Why Americans Feel Shocked by Electricity Bills
- 89% of Americans have been surprised by their electricity bill at least once in the past year. Roughly 1 in 10 (13%) say it happens nearly every month.
- Only 15% always understand why their bill jumps. More than double that (33%) rarely or never understand it.
- More than half of Americans (53%) suspect their utility provider has overcharged them in the past year.
- About 1 in 5 (21%) place a lot or complete trust in their utility provider to be transparent about what they are paying for.
- Tiered pricing is the most confusing part of the electricity bill, with 43% of Americans saying they do not understand it clearly.
How Emotional and Behavioral Responses Reveal a Deeper Trust Problem in Energy Pricing
- Only 7% of Americans feel fully in control of their electricity bill, while more than half (52%) say they have little or no control.
- Two-thirds of Americans reduce heating or air conditioning use when they receive an unexpectedly high bill.
- About 1 in 5 Americans (22%) delay paying their electricity bill after receiving an unexpectedly high charge. Of those who delayed payment, 46% could not afford the bill that month.
- 18% of Texans switched providers after receiving a high bill, compared with just 6% across the country.
- 50% of Americans say an unexpected electricity bill has caused financial strain or forced them to cut other expenses.
How Transparency and Predictability Could Rebuild Confidence in Energy Providers
- 9 in 10 Americans believe providers should provide real-time usage and cost data to customers.
- Two-thirds of Americans say cost predictability is very or extremely important when picking an energy provider.
- Almost half (46%) say prepaying or tracking usage would increase their trust in providers.
- Most Americans are open to prepaid electricity, with 72% saying they’d be at least somewhat likely to try it.
- In Texas, 84% say cost predictability is very or extremely important, which is 25% higher than the national figure.
Methodology
We surveyed 1,004 U.S. consumers to understand their experiences with electricity bills, including bill surprises, trust in utility providers, financial strain, usage habits, and interest in prepaid or real-time usage options. The survey examined how people interpret their bills, the actions they take in response to unexpected charges, and how cost predictability affects their provider preferences.
The gender breakdown of respondents was 58% women, 41% men, and 1% nonbinary. The survey sampled consumers nationwide, and 15% of respondents were from Texas. The data was collected in November 2025.
About Prepaid Electricity
Prepaid Electricity makes it easy to get power on your terms. With no credit checks, no deposits, and same-day connections, you’re in control from the start. We work with trusted providers to give you simple, affordable prepaid electricity plans plus daily balance alerts so there are never any surprises. Getting started is fast, easy, and stress-free.
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